Although this widespread southeastern species ranges across most of Ky., it is much less frequent in eastern regions. Barton's (1919) data indicates two strong historical western concentrations: in HARD, HART and adjacent counties; also in CRIT, LYON and adjacent counties. Q. stellata was probably promoted by frequent fires before settlement, and it has declined greatly with fire suppression after 1900. Large trees in woods or fencerows, with little or no regeneration, appear to be remnants of openings in the original woodland; the largest known tree of stellata in Ky. is at the MCRA county courthouse (KDF 2020): 153 cm dbh and 28 m tall, with crown 28.4 m wide. Q. stellata has the smallest acorns of white oaks in Ky. (nuts ca. 10-20 x 8-12 mm), which is probably associated with dispersal by birds into more open land; see also notes under phellos. Q. macrocarpa and lyrata appear to be the most closely related species in Ky., although they have much larger acrons. These three species have somewhat similar leaf shapes and pubescence, but lower leaf surfaces of stellata have dense to sparse, mostly 1-4-rayed hairs; hairs; the other two species have mostly 4-10-rayed hairs (Y). Well-developed terminal buds of stellata are relatively large (mostly 4-6 mm long) and somewhat pubescent, as in macrocarpa. Fresh twigs are relatively thick (mostly 3-4 mm) and more or less tomentose, generally unlike other white oaks in Ky. A few colls. named stellata from JEFF (DHL) suggest introgression with lyrata. There are also occasional hybrids with alba, perhaps lyrata and other species. The closely related species, Q. similis Ashe, is known from hydroxeric flatwoods of the lower Mississippi Valley, centered in La. and southern Ark. (K, W). Q. similis has been reported from se. Mo. (Y, Thomas 2017) but remains unknown in Tenn., Ky. and Ill. The foliage of similis is similar to that of lyrata, but can be distinguished as follows (FNA 3): leaf lobes usually simple, oblong or rounded (versus somewhat angular or "spatulate"); secondary veins usually 3-5 on each side (versus 5-7); lower surface grayish (versus light green to glaucous); upper surfaces with dense to sparse stellate hairs (versus with simple hairs to glabrate); twigs persistently tomentulose (versus villous to soon glabrate). [A small tree of similis is planted in FAYE: 38.00116, -84.54166 (May 2021).]